Imagine a telescope so powerful, it can see the surface details of exoplanets hundreds of light-years away. This isn’t science fiction; it’s the potential of harnessing the sun’s gravity as a natural lens. Learn about the incredible power of the solar gravitational lens and the ambitious plans to build a fleet of spacecraft to reach its focal point and unlock the secrets of the universe.
South America is grappling with unprecedented wildfires that have created a toxic cloud spanning millions of square miles, turning rain black, rivers green, and pushing air pollution levels to dangerous highs. The fires, exacerbated by a severe drought, have been linked to human activity and climate change, impacting the health of millions across the continent.
NASA astronaut Don Pettit, on his fourth trip to the International Space Station (ISS), has shared a stunning photo of London’s night lights shimmering from 250 miles above. Pettit, known for his captivating space photography, continues to capture awe-inspiring views during his six-month mission, promising more captivating images to come.
The India A vs India C match began with a tense start, but Pratham Singh quickly broke the shackles with a boundary in the first over. The match is shaping up to be a tight contest, with both teams looking to make their mark.
The first Test match between India and Bangladesh begins in Chennai, with India aiming for a series sweep to strengthen their position in the World Test Championship. Bangladesh, buoyed by their recent win in Pakistan, face a formidable challenge against a strong Indian side.
India’s ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission, approved by the Union Cabinet, marks a significant step towards lunar sample return and future human space exploration. This mission will be a two-stage endeavor, utilizing two rockets to collect lunar samples and bring them back to Earth. The successful completion of Chandrayaan-4 will pave the way for a future Indian astronaut landing on the moon, highlighting India’s growing prowess in space exploration.
The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft, en route to Jupiter, conducted a test run on Earth, confirming its habitability. The spacecraft successfully detected key elements for life, including water, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, and sulfur, demonstrating the capabilities of its instruments for future explorations of Jupiter’s icy moons.
A new study reveals the presence of high-speed iron winds on the exoplanet WASP-76b, where temperatures reach 2,400 degrees Celsius, causing iron to vaporize and rain down as molten metal. This discovery sheds light on the extreme atmospheric conditions found on ultra-hot Jupiters and helps scientists understand planetary climates in greater detail.
The German space agency DLR has released initial results from a radiation study conducted during NASA’s Artemis I mission. The findings indicate that radiation levels inside shielded areas of the Orion spacecraft are within acceptable limits, providing a positive outlook for future lunar missions. The study also highlighted the importance of spacecraft orientation in minimizing radiation exposure.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a breathtaking image of Arp 107, two galaxies in a dramatic collision 465 million light-years away. The image showcases the chaotic beauty of galactic interaction, highlighting the birth of new stars and the swirling dust and gas around a supermassive black hole.
